compel
verb (used with object)
to force or drive, especially to a course of action.
were compelling
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past progressiveof compel.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ideas were compelling, and they’re catching on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026
Even the ones that felt wrong in a way I didn’t have vocabulary for at the time — like Alison in “The Breakfast Club” and Iona in “Pretty In Pink” — were compelling.
From Salon ● Jan. 17, 2026
The results were compelling, demonstrating the strains' effectiveness in reducing body fat and rectifying the imbalances in intestinal microflora induced by obesity.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 29, 2024
Of course, there were compelling reasons for the 6-foot, 197-pound quarterback to stay.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023
Langley liked to think of itself as a place that eschewed bureaucracy, where an idea from a cafeteria worker could get a fair hearing if it were compelling enough.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
